Joyce Wrice plans to kick off October with new music. Following her critically acclaimed debut album, Overgrown, Wrice is set to drop her new EP, Motive next month. The EP will primarily feature production by Kaytranada.
Ahead of the EP, Wrice shared the Kill Bill-inspired video for “Iced Tea” yesterday. The song “Iced Tea” arrived this past March, exactly a year after the release of Overgrown. With Motive, Wrice wanted to create a project with more uptempo tracks as a bridge between her debut and her sophomore albums.
“In between coming off of my debut album and brainstorming ideas for my sophomore album, I was motivated to create an EP that the world could dance to,” said Wrice in a statement. “This new project is experimental, fun, carefree, and sexy. After Overgrown, I was inspired to be free-spirited and to let loose and during this process, I was consistently asking myself, ‘What’s your motive?’”
In addition to Kaytranada, Motive will also feature production by Kaelin Ellis and Osinach Nwaneri, as well as songwriting by Trey Campbell, Miraa May, and Mack Kaene.
Check out the Motive cover art and tracklist below.
They say success is the best revenge, but for Joyce Wrice, it’s going to take a lot more than a hit single to avenge her past lovers and enemies. She much rather get it back in blood with cool sword tricks, cute outfits and surprisingly pressed hair for kicking butt all day.
Wrice is steadily riding the wave of releasing notably one of the best R&B projects last year, Overgrown. Even though she released “Iced Tea” with the help of production by Kaytranada back in March, her momentum hasn’t slowed down since.
Now, the fan favorite has a half-anime, half-motion picture set of visuals to accompany the groovy ditty. The visual is directed by Xavier Tera and creative-directed by Ashley Bone. It stars Wrice seamlessly blending aspects of her Japanese and Black cultures amid a dance number in the rain with a few other ladies. Dancing in the rain is a common R&B video theme that’s been missing in heartbreak videos of today. It’s great to see slip and slid efforts of Usher in “U Got It Bad” and Ray J’s “One Wish” acknowledged and cherished.
Dancing aside, anyone on Wrice’s revenge list should be very afraid. Peep the video above.
The hip-house resurrection continues with the remix to Ravyn Lenae’s new Kaytrana-produced single, “Xtasy.” Fittingly, the new version of the song features a verse from Doechii, rap’s latest adherent to the dance-music-infused style that first emerged 30 years ago and has made a roaring resurgence this year. Picking up where she left off on her own upbeat singles like “Persuasive” and her debut EP, She/Her/Black B*tch, Doechii delivers a seductive verse playing off the sexy themes presented by Lenae on the original “Xtasy.”
Lenae has been around for a bit, but has seen increased attention in 2022 thanks to a slew of steamy singles such as the Steve Lacy collaborations “Skin Tight” and “Light Me Up,” “Xtasy,” and “M.I.A.,” the lead single from her upcoming debut album Hypnos. In a statement about the long-awaited debut, Lenae said:
“When you listen to the music, I hope you have a better understanding of me and even catch a better understanding of yourself. As artists, we make music as a pathway to help other people understand certain aspects of their lives. I’ve gone through the tunnels and seen the light on the other side. I’m finding my way. I’m clearer on who I am and my power through music and lyricism. I’m pouring more into me, friendships, family, and music. Through all of that, I’m fulfilled.”
Check out the “Xtasy” remix above.
Hypnos is out 5/20 via Atlantic. Pre-save it here.
Ravyn Lenae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
